Improvement in machines for making metal tubes



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. C. ALLISON. Machine for Making Metal Tubes.

Patented Dec. 23, 1879.

N.PETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. O. ALLISON.

2 7H an 3..

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITMQGRAFHER, WASNINGYON, or C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM G. ALLISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR MAKING METAL TUBES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,852, dated December 23, 1879 application filed August 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. ALLISON, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Metal Tubes, which improvementis fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure] is a side elevation of the apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Figs. 4;, 5,-and 6 are transverse sections, respectively. in lines 00 w, yy, and z a, Fig. 3. Figs. 7 and SHIG views of detached puslthars.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in the several figures.

My invention has for its object the ready, safe, and expeditious operation of the bar employed in welding tubes.

The invention consists in an improved form of reversing baror mandrel and mechanism to receive, retain, and operate it, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a bar, which carries at one end a ball, A, and is fitted at the other end to a socket-bar, B,which is supported on a trough, O. 0 represents a chamber, which extends beneath the trough G the length thereof, and communicates with the space of the trough by meansof a throat, a, at the base of the trough.

Secured to the under side of the socket-bar B is a hooked plate, D, the neck whereof is passed through the throat a of the trough, and the hooks enter the chamber 0, and are connected to an endless chain, E, which passes through said chamber and around a grooved wheel, F, which is mounted, as hereinafter set forth, on a housing or stand, G, at the rear of the trough G, and around a grooved Wheel or sheave, F, at the front of the trough, and also over grooved pulleys F, mounted on standards G, the trough being supported at one 'end by the housing or stand G, at the opposite end by the stand G, and intermediate thereof by the standards G, said stands and standards being open or separated to permit the passage of the chain.

The chain wheel F is circumferentially grooved to receive the links of the chain E, the grooves conforming to the shape of the links. Each side of the wheel, near the circumference, is formed with a V-shaped rib, 0, and from each side of the center projects a journal, (I, which enters an opening in the divided stationary tubular bearing H, each section of the said bearing having its support in the housin g G.

Fitted on said bearing H by sliding joints are friction-wheels J, the grooved sides whereof engage with the ribs 0 of the chain-wheel F, although otherconstructious for producing friction between the wheels and pulleys may be employed.

To the hubs or collars of the friction-wheels is attached a yoke, K, which is operated by means of a hand-lever, L, through an intermediate lever or arm, L, said lever L being supported 011 the standards G, or other suitable and convenient part of the apparatus.

M represents a bar, which is pivoted to an adjustable standard rising from the stand, G, and carries a screw, N, which is arranged horizontally and longitudinally, and adapted to overhang the trough G, and from the opposite side of the block G rises another standard, which supports a pivoted arm or lever, P, formed with a head, 0, and cam-face f-the former to lock the bar M, and the latter to elevate it, when so required.

The front wheel, F, is mounted on an adjustable frame, Q, which is held in position by screws passed through slots in said frame into the base of the trough, and the frame is moved by means of a screw, R, fitted to an ear, g, projecting from a guard-plate, S, which is bolted to the forward end of the trough, the movement of the frame Q, serving to loosen or tighten the chain E, as required.

Within the guard=plate is mounted aroller, T, the supports whereof rest on a taper gib, V, extending transversely through the gear plate, and operated by a suitable screw rod or rods, whereby the roller T may be adjusted vertically relatively to the wear and conditions of the bar A, which is adapted to rest and slide on the aforesaid roller. g

' To the top of the guard-plate is hinged a cap, WV, which overhangs the bar A and is bolted to the plate, in order to prevent the rising of the bar A, which is further assisted by means of a pin, X, passed transversely through the upper walls of the trough G, beneath which pin is a sleeve, h, through which the bar A passes, another sleeve, 70, being fitted in the adjacent faces of the guard-plate S and cap W for the passage of the bar A.

In order to prevent the rotation of the bar A, the socket-bar B is formed with an irregular head, Y, of such shape as to extend be tween the sides of the trough and bear against themin other words, fit snugly therein which prevents turningof the bar Aor socketbar B within the trough.

The inner face of the top of the housing or stand G supports apiece, Z, of rubber or other elastic material, which serves as a buffer for the bars A B.

The operation is as follows: The frictionpulleys J are continuously operated in opposite direction by open and cross belts or other suitable means, as desired. The metal which is to be welded into tubing is bent and heated to the requiredform, and passed through the rollers R and over the ball A and rod A, and welded in the usual manner, said rod A being out to its full extent andabutting against the screw N of the stop-bar M as its first position. As the tube advances it reaches the guardplate and the welding is then accomplished, after which the'lever P is depressed, thus first releasing the end of the stop-bar M, and then raising said bar so as to clear thelatter of the bars A B. The lever L is also operated, and this moves the yoke K and shifts the frictionpulleys J in such manner as to revolve the chain-wheel F and run back the bar A from Within the tubing, leaving the latter ready for removal. The lever L is now operated in the opposite direction, and pulleys J are thereby shifted, so as to reverse the motion of the chain-wheel F, thus returning the bar A to its former position. The stop-bar M is now permitted or caused to drop, bringing the screw N in sustaining contact with the socket-bar, ready for the next operation, it being noticed that the several operations are safely, reliably, and expeditiously accomplished.

Should the bar A become bent, or for other purposes require removal, the cap W is unbolted and raised, the pin X withdrawn, and the connecting-pin of the bars A B removed.

Water is-directed into the trough in any suitable manner, so as to cool the bar as it slides therein and the other parts, as is evident.

The aforesaid device may be employed for pushing skelp into the furnace or into the rolls when properly heated for welding. In this case I substitute for the bar A a pusher-bar, P, having a fork for engaging with the end or edge of the pipe, and connect said bar to a short bar, P, which is secured to the socketbar B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the mandrel or bar A, its socket-bar B, the hooked plate D, and reversing carrying-chain E, all constructed substantially as described.

2. Thetrough O,'in combination with the bar A, fixed to the chain, and provided with a head, Y, shaped to fit between the sides of the trough, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the mandrel A and the carrying-chain E, of the trough O, the chain-chai'nber G, and the throat to, all constructed and arranged substantially as de scribed.

4. The chain-wheel F, with journals d, the I WV. 0. ALLISON.

Witnesses JAMES ONEILL, JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM. 

